Documentaries come in different forms—and depending upon the genesis of a film, the form can vary immensely. What comes first: the topic, an idea, a character?

Unless it’s film school, we don’t typically label documentaries, we simply choose films to watch based upon a topic of interest. But the mode a filmmaker chooses for any particular film, and how they instigate it, can make the difference between a ‘good’ film and an ‘outstanding’ film.  Whether they choose an expository (narrated) mode or participatory (direct engagement between filmmaker and subjects); observational (fly-on-the-wall) or performative (filmmaker as participant) mode; or if they choose a reflexive (awareness of film process within the film) or poetic (subjective/artistic expression) mode—or possibly a combination, can make all the difference in the world!